The challenge of walking with the God who knows me.

Refuge in the tumult

I have been taught that God’s refuge is where I live if I am making godly decisions. Psalm 91 takes another approach.

If you say, ‘The Lord is my refuge’ and make the most-high your dwelling,

If I say, ‘The Lord is my refuge’, I am choosing not to make anything else my refuge. There are many choices available- money, people of power, the law, … These refuges beckon us, and in danger, we are driven to them.
If I make the most-high my dwelling, then I live in Jesus’ presence, he speaks to my heart and gives me peace.
Bringing these together, I see the false choices would be a betrayal of the one who loved me and gave himself for me. If I have experienced dwelling with Jesus, then his peace keeps fear from driving me from his refuge.
The psalm goes on,

no harm will come near you, no disaster will come near your tent,

‘No harm’ is not ‘no threat’, ‘near your tent’ is not ‘in your land’. The appearance will be challenging but we have God’s promise, and rest in that assurance.

for he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. Psalm 91:9-11

We might appear naïve in this place of refuge, but the Lord is active; He commands his angels to intervene. We cannot see a rescue, but then we can’t see angels.
In the political turmoil help me, Lord, to take refuge and dwell in you!